With the return of Xu Yang and Dugu Yan, their team's daily routine resumed its regular rhythm.
Cultivation, training, and the crafting of soul tools—such a life repeated itself continuously.
Yet Xu Yang didn't find it boring. The only difference was the unexpected addition of someone beside him: Dugu Yan.
Every time Xu Yang was resting or working on soul tools, Dugu Yan would come over and cling to him. She was direct and unreserved in showing her affection, leaving Xu Yang—who, having lived two lives and long since given up on love—completely flustered.
What the hell is going on here?
With no way to deal with it, Xu Yang could only pretend to be indifferent and let Dugu Yan stay close, as long as she didn't interfere with his work.
During the subsequent training sessions, Yu Tianheng and the others began to notice the abnormal fluctuations in soul power from Xu Yang and Dugu Yan. When they finally saw Xu Yang's astonishing soul ring configuration, their jaws dropped wide enough to fit a ball.
They couldn't believe their eyes—someone had actually achieved a ten-thousand-year third soul ring.
Even if he was consuming whale rubber like rice, reaching the third ring at the ten-thousand-year level was still near impossible. The sheer spiritual pressure from a ten-thousand-year soul beast would be enough to crush a normal Soul Elder, let alone someone who had just advanced from level 23 to 30 in a short period of time.
Of course, they also suspected that Xu Yang and Dugu Yan were hiding something. After all, they had taken leave and returned at nearly the same time—and both had advanced to the Soul Elder realm.
Couple that with how clingy Dugu Yan had become lately, and the suspicion only deepened.
Aside from Oslo, Yu Feng, and Ye Lingling, the remaining three had already notified their respective families to investigate what the two had been up to during their absence.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan—being one of the Upper Three Sects—possessed tremendous influence. As for the Shi Mo and Shi Mo brothers, their Xuanming Sect, while lacking a Titled Douluo, was no weaker than any of the Lower Four Sects.
Xu Yang understood Yu Tianheng's intentions, but he neither stopped them nor worried. Even if those two clans managed to send people into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, as long as they didn't know about the Immortal Herbs, they wouldn't be able to uncover the secret.
Besides, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was now guarded by Dugu Bo, a Titled Douluo. And not just any Titled Douluo—he was now at Rank 93, and his mutated dragon-type martial soul, the Horned Dragon, was incredibly powerful. Without a Super Douluo, no one could possibly get in.
A Titled Douluo was not someone any faction could casually deploy—let alone a Super Douluo.
Even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan always had a Super Douluo stationed within the sect, never leaving its grounds, all to protect the clan.
As for Yu Yuanzhen, he couldn't possibly leave the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan lightly. The only one who might move was Yu Luomian, the Violet Thunder Douluo—but even he might not be Dugu Bo's match.
In the blink of an eye, two months of their uneventful academy life had passed.
During this time, the team led by Qin Ming—destined to become the future Emperor Battle Team—had begun to develop mutual understanding and combat synergy.
"Your group training has reached its limit. Continuing like this won't yield much progress," Qin Ming said as he addressed the team in the lounge.
"Your next phase of training will be actual combat. You'll be participating in battles at the Heaven Dou Spirit Arena, competing against spirit master teams from all over the nation to hone your teamwork."
"Teacher Qin Ming, will we be up against Soul Elder teams or Grandmaster teams?" Oslo raised his hand to ask.
"Since both Yan and Xu Yang have reached Soul Elder level, your opponents will be Soul Elder teams." Qin Ming smiled, showing no concern for the dismayed looks on Shi Mo and the others' faces.
"How are we supposed to fight like that?!" Oslo exclaimed, clutching his head dramatically.
It might've looked like a joke, but it was a genuine concern. Most of them were only at level 23 or 24—not even near the peak Grandmaster level of 28 or 29—and had no chance against opponents with a third soul skill.
"What's the matter? Can you only fight spirit masters of your own level?" Qin Ming said coldly, frowning slightly.
"You should know that in every Spirit Hall Tournament, the opposing teams are monstrously strong, with multiple members far above your level."
"So what if they're Soul Elders? We'll fight them!" Yu Tianheng stood up, eyes firm and locked on Xu Yang.
He knew that if he didn't push himself harder, he'd never catch up to Xu Yang—or even to Dugu Yan.
This was his first step toward crossing boundaries in battle.
Xu Yang simply smiled faintly, as if he didn't notice the determination burning in Yu Tianheng's gaze. Naturally, he was also interested in these Spirit Arena battles. It had been three years since he awakened his martial soul, and aside from being crushed by Ning Haiyan and sparring with Yu Tianheng and others, he hadn't had many chances to fight peers. This was the perfect opportunity to test his skills.
With Yu Tianheng taking the lead, Shi Mo and the others followed suit, all agreeing without complaint.
The rules at all Spirit Arenas across the continent were the same: solo battle first, followed by two-man battles, and finally team battles. Each spirit master could only participate in one match of each type per day.
The Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena—located in the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire—was one of the most elite Spirit Arenas in all of Douluo. Even Soul Emperor teams would compete here, entertaining nobles and drawing massive crowds.
Naturally, the prize money here was also unmatched—often twice as much as other Spirit Arenas.
That's why spirit masters from all over flocked here to earn more rewards.
"Here's how I've arranged it: everyone must participate in the team battles. For solo and duo battles, choose one—you must participate in at least one event each day," Qin Ming said in the arena's lobby.
Everyone agreed to the arrangement and began choosing their events.
Shi Mo and Shi Mo—being twins—immediately picked the duo battles. Their perfect synergy and connection made them almost unbeatable in the Grandmaster tier.
"Then I guess I'll have to pair up with Xu Yang. After all, we're the only Soul Elders on the team," Dugu Yan said with a giggle, clinging tightly to Xu Yang's arm.
Xu Yang struggled a few times to break free, but ultimately failed and had no choice but to let her cling.
Yan…" Ye Lingling looked at Dugu Yan with a hint of grievance.
As a support-type spirit master, she had little combat capability—solo battles were out of the question, and duo battles were her only hope. Her best choice would've been to team up with her close friend, Dugu Yan.
But she never expected that her thick-browed, righteous-looking best friend would betray her for that damn guy.
"Lingling, don't look at me like that… I'm in the Soul Elder bracket now—I really can't team up with you," Dugu Yan said, averting her eyes awkwardly.
Ye Lingling said nothing, but continued to stare straight at her.
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin